Alarming situation in Japan

Dear Friends,

Conscientious Japanese do not forget the goal described in the Constitution “We desire to occupy an honored place in an international society striving for the preservation of peace.” They are required to stay particularly vigilant to any departure from it, under present circumstances.

The Japanese Government has decided to tolerate the use of Adolf Hitler’s autobiography “Mein Kampf” (“My Struggle”) as teaching material in schools. It is known that this book advocates fascism, racism and extremism.
Earlier, the Government announced its intention to allow equally the use of the Imperial Rescript on Education of 1890.

It has stunned the majority of the Japanese and, to a greater degree, the international community, because it reveals undeniably the move of returning to the prewar militarism.
On April 18, Chinese Foreign Ministry official’s reaction was reported as expected. It is to the effect that fascism and militarism “must be held thoroughly accountable and eradicated” and that Japan must educate its young people with “the right view of history”.

Something seems to be wrong in Japan.
The credibility of the party in power is seriously being damaged by successive scandals in addition to the Moritomo school problem and newly surfacing Kakei school affair, concerning the transfer of national land and the supply of huge grant-in-aid.

Mr.Toshinao Nakagawa has tendered his resignation as Parliamentary vice minister of Economy, Trade and Industry for having had an extramarital affair. We are reminded of recent verbal gaffs by a number of ministers and the presence in the Cabinet of certain incompetent ministers.

A few days ago, a commentator of the Television Asahi expressed his astonishment about the unprecedented resolution of the commission to enable the presence of a director-general of the Ministry of Justice in order to assist the Minister of Justice. Opposition parties are severely criticizing the autocratic management of the parliamentary deliberations.

It is noteworthy that Chairman Natsuo Yamaguchi of Komeito, the coalition partner of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party could not refrain from stating in his recent public speech made a few days ago that the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is “strikingly lacking in a sense of alertness.”

To complicate the situation, the President of the organizing Committee, Yoshiro Mori, has written a book commented in the attached Japanese article.
It seems to be a fierce attack against Governor Koike. President Mori is” fighting against two fears,one is cancer and the other is the blade of Governor Koike”. This will invite a discussion on the “under control” assertion. I have sent to Gonernor Koike the attached message to reiterate my conviction that the retreat from the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020 would mark the beginning of a new age awaited by the majority of the Japanese.